Garment hanger



J. K. M GHIE GARMENT HANGER Nov. 2, 1954 Filed March 14, 1950 FIG.6.

I INVENTOR M ii. 726

0001a Q. flaw/1,

- ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofilice GARMENT HANGER James K. McGhie, Croton-on-Hudson, N. Y. Application March 14, 1950, Serial No. 149,501

14 Claims. Cl. 223-35 The present invention relates to apparel apparatus and more particularly to garment hangers adapted for use in suspending garments and the like from a supporting rod or line.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a garment hanger embodying novel hook and guard means which will effectively prevent accidental dislodgment of the hanger from the supporting rod or the line and the consequent falling of the hanger and any clothes which may be on it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment hanger, the novel construction of which makes it possible to remove a garment therefrom without removing the hanger from its supporting rod while at the same time having assurance that the hanger will not rock or oscillate off the rod after the garment has been removed and the hanger released bv the user.

A further object is to provide a novelly constructed hanger for garments and the like which may be placed on and removed from a supporting rod or line with comparative case but which will effectively resist accidental removal.

Still another object is to provide a hanger for garments or other articles embodying novel guard means which will prevent accidental removal of the hanger from a supporting rod or line and which are automatically operable by said rod or line when the hanger is placed thereon or removed therefrom in the usual manner by a user.

A still further object is to provide a novel form of hook and latch means which may be readily embodied in a garment'hanger or the like.

Another object is to provide a garment hanger of novel construction which is substantially balanced with respect to its normal point of suspension on a supporting rod or line.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the invention, reference for this latter purpose being had primarily to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view, partly in section, illuscrating one type of wooden or plastic garment hanger embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a wire hanger embodying the same form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with parts broken away, showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view, partly in section and with parts broken away, of another type of hanger embodying still another form of the invention; and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section and witll parsts broken away, taken substantially on line 6-6 of ig.

A limited number of embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example, as being incorporated in simple forms of garment hangers of types comparable to those used extensively in homes, stores and wherever clothes are to 2,693,303 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 be hung. In Figs. 1 and 2, one novel form of hook and guard mechanism comprehended by the invention is shown in combination with a simple known type of curved yoke or bar 10 made of wood or other suitable material, such as plastic or metal. The hook 11 is adapted to engage a supporting rod 12 and may be made of stiff Wire or the like in a very simple form that may be inexpensively executed. As shown, said hook comprises an upwardly and laterally inclined straight portion 14 and a curved or hooked portion or crown 15 that terminates in spaced relation to the yoke, thus forming an entrance for rod 12. The free end'of the straight portion 14 may be secured in a drilled opening 16 in yoke 10 in any known manner such as by flattening a portion of the wire to form one or more tabs 17 that bite into the walls of opening 16 and prevent further downward movement of the wire through the yoke. The tip of the wire may be flattened as at 18 to prevent withdrawal thereof in the other direction. When the bar 10 is made of plastic or other similar materials, the end of wire 14 may be molded therein.

Novel guard or closure means are provided in combination with the above described parts for preventing accidental removal of the hanger from the supporting rod, said means being automatically operable by the rod when the hanger is used in the usual manner and of simple construction which can be inexpensively incorporated. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said guard means comprises a substantially rigid shank or spindle 19 which may be of the same material and mounted on bar 10 in the same manner as hook 11-. Said shank preferably diverges from the straight portion 14 of the hook at the same angle relative to bar 10 and in direct alignment with the end of book portion 15. The space or entrance for rod 12 between the free .end of hook 15 and the end of spindle 19 is substantially closed or bridged by a rigid bar or closure member 20 which may likewise be made of stiff wire or the like. The hook, shank and closure member may in fact be installed on yoke 10 as a unitary loop of stiff wire and thereafter cut in two places to form the three elements 11, 19 and 20 and hence the entrance for rod 12.

The hook entrance closing member 20 is mounted on spindle 19 in a novel manner for substantially universal pivotal movement relative thereto by means of a stiff coil spring 21. The latter is constructed to surround and tightly grip the adjacent end portions of closure member or bar 20 and spindle 19 and to function as a yielding support for the closure member in longitudinal axial alignment with said spindle and the free end of hook 15. The extreme end turns of spring 21 may be somewhat reduced to snap into grooves 22 and 23 in spindle 19 and member 20, respectively, and thereby provide additional assurance against any disengagement of the spring from either of these parts. Spring 21 is preferably closely wound and made of stiff spring wire so that it will give sufiicient rigidity to closure means 20, 21 for preventing accidental removal of the hanger from rod 12 or similar support, such as a clothes line.

When it is desired to place the hanger on rod 12 it is only necessary to elevate the same to the plane indicated by the dotted line position of Fig. l, with closure member 20 engaging rod 12, and to then move the hanger to the right and downwardly (as viewed in Fig. 1) in the customary manner. Spring 21 will yield under sufiicient pressure, which need not be great, and permit guard or closure member 20 to move to dotted line position B and permit the hook to operably engage rod 12. When it is desired to remove the hanger from the supporting rod, it is only necessary to lift it off in the usual manner, applying only sufficient additional etfort in a horizontal or lateral direction to flex the guard or closure means 20, 21 to dotted line position C. If a garment is removed from the hanger without removing the latter from rod 12, the guard means will effectively prevent the hanger from falling off the rod when it is released by the user to swing or oscillate in the usual manner.

The embodiment of Fig. 3 incorporates the same form of the invention as above described but in combination with a Wire type hanger. A single stiif wire is bent to form yoke consisting of a cross bar 24 and inclined shoulder bars 2525, a hook 26 and closure shank or spindle 27. The guard or closure bar 20 is mounted "s same on .spind'le27 by meansof springll in-thesanimanner as above described in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 1. In this construction it will be noted that the hanger yoke, hook and spindle are integral parts. In a hanger of the molded plastic type either .orboththe hook and the closure supporting spindle may be molded .integrally with the garment engagingpart or yoke of the hanger. I

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. '4 isconstructed and operates in the same manneras thesstructurepfIFig. 1, except that the guard or closure means-forthe-lhook -entrance embodies a difierent form ofsp'ring for-supporting the closure member. As shown, the-supportingspring,28 is in the-formof a roundor flat 'leaftspr ingwithits-erids secured to and preferably embedded- -in-theadjacentiend of members 19 and'20. The straightresilient member-28 functions in the same mannerand for: the samepurpose asthe spring 21. g

'In the embodiment of Figs. and-6-thereais--disclosed a form of the invention which 'isespecially-adaptedt-for the heavier, more sturdy type hangersloftamiliar design. As --shown,- the yoke of .thehanger comprises two-inclined shoulder bars-29, 29'joined by airelativelyFbulkyucerltral portion 30. The latter is provided-with airecessvlil' in which a metallic container or liner '32 is'su-itably secured, such as by one or more rivets 33. The-lower-end of-a wire hook 34 is soldered or otherwise-suitably secured-to the liner 32 at one end of therecessaandaleaf spring 35 having a free horizontal-arm in'the 'central portion-"ofthe liner is secured to the bottom of the latter and' if-desired to the wire of'hook 34. Mountedpivotally 'on'aztransverse shaft 36 above the horizontakarm 'o'fspring 35xisx a closure member '37 for the 'entranceto hook34. Member 37 comprises a hub 38, a rigid arm 39 extend-ingupwardly from the hub to a point adjacent the free'endof-hook 34 and a rigid arm :40 which extends laterally 'from armi39,

the latter being preferably curved' in su'cha manner as'to form a symmetrical loop with'hook34. 'Thet adjacent' ends of hook 34 and closure bar 39 are preferably-bevelled and extend into overlapping relationtto limit pivotal move" ment of bar 39 in a counterclockwise directionyasiv iewed in the drawings. Hub 38 has two'fiat'surfacewon-the periphery thereof adapted to be 'enga'ged by "thehorizontal'arm of spring35 when closure member 37 isin 'hook closing and hook opening positions. effective to 'yieldably hold the closure'member in either open or closed position, the open position thereof being indicated in dotted lines (Fig. 5

In order to remove thehanger of Fig.5 from supporting rod 12 it is only necessary to lift the hanger slightly, engage closure arm 39 with the side of rod-I2 and then shift the hanger to the left, all in the usual manner of removing a hanger from a support. 'The outward pressure applied to the hook closing member through thereaction of rod against the position. In this position spring '35 will engage the other fiat surface on the hub to yieldably-hold=-member"37 against return to closed position. wardly at an angle when member 37 is in openposition so thatas the hanger is replaced on rod 12, the-latter w-ill engage arm 40, and the member 37 will be'returned to entrance closing position in response'to the necessary replacement movement of the hanger.

In the embodiments of Figs. land 3, the adjacent'ends' of closure members 20 and shanks 19 and 27, respectively, within the coils of spring 21 may be comparatively fiat and reasonably close together so that they will coact witheach other to damp the vibrations of spring 21 when the" closure member is released from open positions B and C(Fig. 1). This construction is best illustrated in Fig.2 wherein the axial distance between the ends of members 19 and 20" is shown as being less than the pitch of the coil spring. IIf desired,.of course, the ends of these'members may butt against each other when the member 20 is in entrance closing position, or the endsthereof may'be'rounded or shaped to coact like a'ball and socket joint to th'ereby avoid any interference with the action of the spring itself. It will be obvious that the lower endsof hook 26 and shank-27 adjacentyoke'ZS in the embodimentlof Fig. 3 may be laterally spaced as'arethe'corresponding parts in the embodiment of Fig.1. 'ln'ione mannerfof efiecting' this result, the adjacent ends of bars-25 could The spring is thus 12 will cause it to pivot about shaft' 36' and pressure of spring 35 to thedotted line or. open The lateral arm- 40 extends up- -4 distance to separate the .elements in question. ,In this form of hanger, the distance between the yoke and the crown of the hook could be reduced to a minimum.

There is thus provided a garment hanger of simplified and inexpensive construction and of pleasing appearance embodying novel means which will effectively prevent the hanger from falling to-the floor by accident. One of the most prevalent causes of damage to hangers is thus eliminated as :isalso one of the greatest sources of dirt and lint transferred from hangers to clothing. A great deal 'of unnecessary .stoopin'g by the user to pick uphangers is. also avoided.

Although only a limited number of embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing and described in detail in the "foregoing specification, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but that various changes may be made in the design and arrangementof parts illustrated as wellas in the particular. materialsv suggested without departing from the-spirit and scope of the "invention, .as will-now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

-What is:claimed is:

1. A garmenthangercomprisinga yoke, a hook securedat onenend to thecentral portionof the yoke and terminating. at itsOther-end in 'spaced relation to the yoke to form -an :entrance for=a supporting rod operatively engageable by the hook, and closure means for said entranceincluding a:rigid spindle rigidly secured to said yoke and extendinginto said entrance, resilientmeans mounted onthe free end ofsaid spindle and a rigid bar mounted-onthe .free end of said resilient means and extending, whensaid resilient means is unbiased, into proximity with the .free end of said hook, said spindle, resilient means and bar being an assembly of separate parts-which in assembled relation are shorter in overall length than the distance across said entrance to permit movement of the .bar to-and-fro passed said free end of the hook' in the-planesof the latter without engaging the piece of stiff wire.

5. 'A garmenthanger 'comprisinga yoke, a hook securedatone-endtothe yoke and terminating at its other end. in spaced relationto the 'yoke "to form an entrance fora supporting rod which is operatively engageable by the hook, and closure means for said entrance. including aspindlesecured to said yoke and extending into said entrance and'elongated flexible.means extending between the free ends :ofsaid spindle/and hook, .said flexible means including -a coil spring .mounted on and longitudinally coaxial -with-said.spindle,-said spring having a plurality of turns atsoneendthereof surrounding and gripping the free endof. said spindle.

-6. A garment .hangeras defined in claim 5 wherein said flexible means includes a rigid bar supported by the coil spring and. extending into proximity with the free end of the hook, said springhaving a plurality of turns surrounding-and gripping an endportion of said bar.

7. A- garment hanger comprising a yoke, a hook having one end thereof secured to said yoke and terminating at the free end thereof in spaced relation to said yoke for forming an entrance to the hook for the passage of a supporting .bar adapted to be operatively engaged by the hook, a rigid closure member pivotally mounted on said. yoke.and extending across said entrance into proximity with 4the :free endiofthe hook when the member is in 1 position .to :close said entrance, .and resilient means engageab'le -with said :member'for yieldably holding the same in entrance closing-position, said 'closure member beingengageable bythe supporting rod for movement to entrance opening 'position when the hanger is removed from the rod.

8. 'Agarment "hanger'as'defined in claim 7 wherein said closure merrrbenhasalaterally extending arm engageablebysaid'rod forpivoting the closure member toentrance closing position while the hook is'being opbe twisted together "'m'ahorizontat plane for the desired 35 eratively engaged with said rod.

9. A garment hanger as defined in claim 7 wherein said resilient means engages difierent surfaces 'of said closure member to yieldably hold the latter in open and closed positions.

10. A garment hanger comprising a yoke, a hook having one end formed integrally with the central portion of the yoke and terminating at its other end in spaced relation to the yoke to form an entrance for a supporting rod operatively engageable by the hook, and closure means for said entrance including a rigid spindle formed integrally with said yoke and extending into said entrance, resilient means mounted on the free end of said spindle and a rigid bar mounted on the free end of said resilient means and extending into proximity with the free end of said hook.

11. A garment hanger comprising a yoke, a hook secured at one end to the central portion of the yoke and terminating at its other end in spaced relation to the yoke to form an entrance for a supporting rod operatively engageable by the hook, and closure means for said entrance including a rigid spindle secured to said yoke and extending into said entrance, said yoke, hook and spindle being formed from a single piece of stifi wire, resilient means mounted on the free end of said spindle and a rigid bar mounted on the free end of said resilient means and extending into proximity with the free end of said hook.

12. A garment hanger comprising a yoke, a hook secured at one end to the central portion of the yoke and terminating at its other end in spaced relation to the yoke to form an entrance for a supporting rod operatively engageable by the hook, and closure means for said entrance including a rigid spindle secured to said yoke and extending into said entrance, resilient means mounted on the free end of said spindle, said resilient means being separable from and longitudinally coaxial with said spindle, and a rigid bar separable from and mounted on the free end of said resilient means in longitudinal coaxial relation thereto and extending into proximity with but short of the free end of said hook.

13. A garment hanger comprising a yoke, a hook secured at one end to the central portion of the yoke and terminating at its other end in spaced relation to the yoke to form an entrance for a supporting rod operatively engageable by the hook, and closure means for said entrance including a rigid spindle rigidly secured to said yoke and extending into said entrance, resilient means mounted on the free end of said spindle and a rigid bar mounted on the free end of said resilient means and extending, when said resilient means is unbiased into proximity with the free end of said hook for movement to-and-fro, passed said free end of the hook without engaging the same, said movement being yieldably resisted by said resilient means, the latter comprising a coil spring which surrounds and grips the adjacent end portions of said spindle and bar.

14. A garment hanger comprising a yoke, a hook secured at one end of the central portion of the yoke and terminating at its other end in spaced relation to the yoke to form an entrance for a supporting rod operatively engageable by the hook, and closure means comprising an assembly of a rigid spindle, elongated resilient means and a rigid bar, said spindle, resilient means, and bar being assembled in longitudinal, coaxial relation to each other with the resilient means normally unbiased and disposed intermediate the bar and the spindle, the latter being rigidly secured to said yoke and said bar normally extending into proximity with, but short of, the free end ofsaid hook, whereby said resilient means is free to flex and permit said bar to move to-and-fro passed the free end of said hook without interference by the latter to permit said rod to enter and be removed from said hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,636,264 Weiss July 19, 1927 1,705,276 Weiss Mar. 12, 1929 1,817,621 Harding Aug. 4, 1931 2,409,538 Brill et al. Oct. 15, 1946 

